Conveying apparatus.



G. F. ATWOOD.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED use. 29. was.

1,292,227= Patented Jan. 21,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

//7 veflfor: George [Aim/00d G. F. ATWOOD.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPucAnoN FILED nmzs. 19w.

1 ,QQQQQ'E. Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

/n vemor: r'qe FA fun 00a G..F. ATWOOD.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 050.29. 1916.

1,292,227. Yatented Jan. 21,1919.

6 $HEETSSHEET 4.

/m/en for." GKOIgc? FAfwoad Af/y G. F. ATWOOD.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 050.29. me.

1,292,227. Patented Jan. 21,1919.

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I G. F. ATWOOD. CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29. I916.

1 ,292,2i2?. Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6 [1 Fij operators,

s'rarns PTNT FIGE.

GEORGE IE. ATWOOD, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRICCOMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Application filed December 29, 1916. Serial No. 139,578.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. A'rwoon, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveying Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to conveying apparatus and is particularly usefulin connection with the conveying of toll tickets in telephone exchanges.

It is the practice in telephone exchanges to route toll calls torecording operators whose duty it is to enter upon a ticket certain datanecessary for the setting up of the desired connection. Such tickets arethen sent to a line operator who arranges for the desired connection andsupervises it. The line operator indicates on the ticket thetime'duration of the conversation and then sends the ticket to a filingclerk who furnishes information as to the cost of the call, and fromwhom the ticket finally goes to the bookkeeper.

The invention is hereinafter described as applied to conveying apparatusfor carrying .tickets from one or a plurality of recording operators toone or a plurality of line operators and thence to a ticket'filingclerk.

Before describing the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawingshereto annexed, attention is called to the fact that a conveyingapparatus for use in connection with a telephone switchboard must bealmost noiseless in its operation. In order to be accessible to therecording and the line it is almost essential that the mechanism bemounted upon the switchboard, and the least vibration or noise in themoving parts is, of course, highly objectionable because it is audiblein the telephone ,circuits. It would not be diflicult to satisfy thisrequirement for practically noiseless operation if the path over whichit is de sired to convey tickets were substantially straight. Owing tothe fact, however, that the switohboards in a toll office may be ofdifferent heights and may be arranged at various angles and levels withreference to one another, the problem of providing a noiseless conveyingapparatus is rendered extremely difficult of solution.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved form of conveying apparatus which is practically noiseless andvibrationless, and which provides efficiently for the transfer oftickets from certain positions to other positions of a telephoneswitchboard or to other points in the exchange. In carrying out thisgeneral object, certain important details of construction are providedwhich are hereinafter described and claimed. One of these details ofconstruction is the arrangement of the troughs in which the ticketstravel, such that the insertion of a ticket in the proper trough isfacilitated. Other details of construction relate to the track, thecarriage which travels thereon, the supporting arrangement for thetraveling belt or rope which moves the carriage, and other details whichcooperate with these parts. Still another feature of the apparatus is adevice for elevating and depositing a ticket in one of the troughs, thisbeing particularly useful at the line operators positions for theinsertion of the tickets into the trough which conveys them to theticket filing clerk. Other features of the present new and improvedconveying apparatus will be hereinafter specifically pointed out.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, somewhat diagrammaticin form, showing the switchboards of a telephone toll office providedwith a conveying apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 isa plan View of that end of such apparatus shown at the extreme right inFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional elevation on the line 33 of Fig. 2;Fig. L is a side elevation of the elevating portion of the conveyingapparatus; Fig. 5 is anelevation of the elevating portion of theapparatus looking in the direction of travel, certain parts being shownin section and certain parts being broken away; Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryplan view showing the relative arrangement of the troughs, track andtraveling member or rope at a curve; Fig.7 is an elevation showing therelative arrangement of the track, rope and idler pulleys; Fig. 8

is a fragmentary perspective view showing particularly the carriage,various positions of the finger mounted on the carriage being shown indash lines; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective View showing how thecarriage is connected to the rope; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectionalelevation showing how the upper wheels are mounted'upon the carriage;Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the manner in whichthe ends of the rope are jointed together; Fig. 12 shows in elevation, adelivery chute, and also an elevating mechanism by which tickets may beraised and inserted mom of the troughs; and Fig. 13 is a sectionalelevation on the line 1313 of the delivery chute and elevating mechanismshown in Fig. 12.

From Fig. 1, a general idea may be ob tained as to the construction of aconveying apparatus embodying the present invention' and as to themanner in which it performs its functions. This view is, of course,largely diagrammatic and for an understanding of the details ofconstruction, reference should be made to the other figures hereinafterdescribed. It will also be understood that the particular arrangement ofconveying apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is merely illustrative and that theinvention may be embodied in many other arrangements adapted to suitparticular needs.

Referring to Fig. l, the switchboard positions of the recordingoperators are indicated at A, the switchboard positions of the lineoperators at B, and the desk of the ticket filing clerk at C. Thefunction of the conveying apparatus is to carry tickets from any one ofthe recording operators positions A to any desired one of the lineoperators positions B; and to carry the tickets from the line 0 eratorsositions B to the ticket.

filing clerks desk C. The conveying apparatus is shown mounted upon thetop of the switchboards and the desk of the ticket filing clerk. Thetickets are conveyed in troughs along which they are pushed bypropelling means which moves along the mouths of the troughs and engagesthe tickets which are of such a size that they project therefrom. Thesetroughs are preferably of' sheet metal and offer but little resistanceto the move mentof the tickets therein. The troughs in which the ticketsare conveyed from the recording operators positions A to the lineoperators positions B are shown at D extending in front of the positionsA and thence extending onward to the positions B where each troughterminates in a chute such as D D and D projecting downward between twoswitchboard positions B, thereby enabling two line operators to receivetickets from the same trough. In front of the recording operatorspositions A, the troughs D are arranged with their mouths in stepformation, thereby facilitating the insertion of tickets into anydesired trough according to the line operator to which the recordingoperator desires to send the ticket. Suitable inscriptions may be placedupon the walls of the troughs D at this point in order to indicate theswitchboard positions B to which particular troughs lead. Except infrontof the recording operators positions A, the troughs D may bearranged with their mouths in substantially the same plane, and they areso shown in Fig. 1. The trough in which the tickets are conveyed fromthe line operators positions B to the ticket filing clerks desk C isshown at E extending before the switchboard positions B and aroundbehind the switchboard and back to the desk C where it terminates in achute G. Where the troughs D and E extend in a vertical direction,guards F and F extend substantially parallel to the mouths of thetroughs at a short distance therefrom and prevent the tickets fromfalling from the troughs. Arranged parallel to the troughs D and E is atrack H, the construction of which is hereinafter described. Upon thistrack run a plurality of carriages J and J, also hereinafter describedin detail, which carry ticket propelling means in the form of pivotedfingers K and K, which at all times extend over the mouths of thetroughs. Normally the propelling finger stands in the position shown atK, but where the troughs D are arranged i-"i step formation in front ofthe recording operators positions A, said finger is inclined to theposition shown at K by the cooperative engagement of the cam L with theend of said finger. In front of the recording operators positions A, thecam L carries a guard M which protects the operators from possibleinjury to their hands by engagement with the end of the propellingfinger. Furthermore, the finger is so supported upon'the carriage thatit is yielding in the direction opposite to the direction in which thefinger travels, thereby allowing the finger to yield if it comes intoengagement with the operators hand or any other obstruction in its path.The carriages J and J may be driven by any suitable means. such as atraveling member in the form of a belt or rope N, to which saidcarriages are connected in a manner hereinafter described. The rope N issupported by pulle vs','certain of which are hereinafter described indetail, and is driven by a pluri-i-lity of motors 0. Owing to the factthat the switchboards at the line operators positions B arecomparatively tall and must free from the obstruction that would resultif the trough E were located within the operators' reach, it isdesirable to provide means for elevating and depositing tickets in saidtrough E. One of said means P is diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 1,and is hereinafter described in detail in connection with Fig 12 and 13.

Figs. 2 and 3 show in detail the apparatus at the extreme right of thesystem shown in Fig. 1. The parts are shown mounted upon a base 1 whichmay be either a part of or separate from the desk C and the switchboardsA. The motor 0, which may be of any suitable design, is provided with apulley 2 upon which the rope N runs. Sa1d rope may be supported atintervals by idler pulleys 3 supported on brackets as shown.- Thetroughs D and E and the track H may be supported upon brackets 4, 5 and6 of any suitable form secured to the base 1 as shown. The cam L mayalso be mounted on sald brackets 5 and 6 through the medium of sheetmetal extension brackets'8 and 9 as shown. The detail construction ofthe track H is hereinafter described in connection with Fig. 7

Figs. 4 and 5 show in detail the construction of the apparatus at thepoint where the two horizontal sections are joined by the verticalsection. Each stretch of the driving rope is shown traveling over andunder pulleys 12 which may be of the form shown, mounted preferably onball bearings on brackets 13 secured to inclined bars 14, suitablyattached at their lower ends to the base 1 and at their upper ends to asupporting frame 16 which may be suspended from the ceiling of the roomby the rods 17. Suitable brackets 19, 20, 21 and 22 support the troughsD and E and the two stretches of track H. The guards F and F, whichextend parallel to the mouths of the troughs D and F and prevent ticketsfrom falling therefrom, are supported on auxiliary brackets 24, 25, 26and 27 of the form shown, which may be secured to the brackets 19, 20,21 and 22. The auxiliary bracket 25 also helps to support the cam L withwhich the end of the propelling finger cooperates as hereinbeforeexplained.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate the relation of the troughs D, the track H andthe driving rope N on one of the curves, and show how that rope may besupported and also a particular construction of track which has beenfound very satisfactory. The troughs D and the track H are shown at thispoint mounted on brackets 30 and 31, which are joined at their outerends by the curved frame member 32. This frame member 32 serves as asupport for brackets 34, of the form best shown in Fig. 7, which carryidler pulleys 35, 36 of the form and arrangement shown, which cooperatewith the rope N so as to hold it in the desired relation to the track H.The

' utility of this particular means for supporting the rope N on curveswill hereinafter appear from the description of the means for attachingthe carriage to the rope shown 1n detail in Fig. 9. It is obvious,however, that the pulleys 35, 36 are so arranged that it is possible formeans connected to the rope N to pass between their faces, and this isthe object of their peculiar arrangement.

The detail construction of the track H is best shown in Fig. 7. Thecenter portion 40 is composed of some suitable fibrous material, such asleather, and is supported between plates 41 and 42, the three partsbeing secured together by any suitable means such as rivets 43. Bothedges of the fibrous material 40 extend beyond the edges of the plates41 and 42, and are thus adapted to be engaged by flanged wheels forminga part of the carriage J hereinafter described in connection with Figs.8, 9 and 10. A

track of this kind is particularly desirable when the invention isembodied in a conveying system for telephone toll tickets, because itassists very greatly in obtaining noiseless operation of the apparatus.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show in detail a form of carriage which is suitablefor a conveying system of the kind hereinbefore generally described. Itwill be understood, however, that the construction of this carriage maybe modified in many respects without departing from the spirit of theinvention as set forth in certain of the appended claims covering theapparatus as a whole. Referring to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the carriage asshown is provided with three flanged wheels 50, 51 and 52 adapted toengage the fibrous material 40 forming part of the track H. The wheel 52is mounted, preferably on ball bearings, upon the lower end of amainframe member The wheels 50 and 51 are mounted in a manner best shown inFig. 10 in separate supporting frames rotatably and adjustably securedto the ends of a top bar 55 forming part of the main frame 54. Thesupporting frames for the wheels 50 and 51 comprise brackets 57, towhich are bolted lugs 59 carrying a flanged wheel 50 or 51 mounted onball bearings of any well-known form, as best shown in Fig. 10. At theirupper ends, the brackets 57 are rigidly secured to a pin 60, having aflange 61 integral therewith and a nut (32 which serves to clamp thebracket 5 firmly in engagement with the flange 61. The pin (30 passesthrough and is rotatable in a sleeve 64, the outer surface of which isthreaded and engages with a threaded hole in the top bar 55, beingsecured in any desired position by lock nuts 65 and 66, as shown in Fig.10. The sleeve 64 at its upper end may terminate in an enlarged hollowportion 68 adapted to serve as a receptacle for oil-soaked fibrousmaterial, therebyproviding for the lubrication of the pin 60 within thesleeve 64. The enlarged portion 68 of the sleeve 64 is covered by a disk70, which may have an oil-hole 71 therein; and the pin 60 may be heldfrom eration of the apparatus.

longitudinal movement within the sleeve 64 by means of a washer 72engaged by a nut 73 with which a lock-nut 74 cooperates. It will beunderstood that the construction j ust described permits the flangedwheels and 51 to rotate around the vertical axes formed by the pins 60,as the curvature of the track may require; and that said wheels may beadjusted vertically so that the space between the top of the flangedwheel 52 and the bottom of the flanged wheels 50 and 51 may bear theproper relation to the distance between the top and bottom surfaces ofthe fibrous material 40 forming part of the track H. The drivingconnection between the carriage and the driving rope N is best shown inFigs. 9 and 11. This driving connection comprises two links 7 5 and 76,a yoke 77 to which one end of each of said links is ivotally secured, adouble ended screw '78 adapted to pass through holes in said yoke and toscrew into the ends of the belt N, and a slotted tube 80 rotatablymounted in flanges 81 and 82 secured to the main frame member 54. Oneend of the link 7 is pivotally mounted within the slotted tube 80 uponthe pin 84 which passes diametrically through tube '80; and one end ofthe link 76 carries a ball member 85 adapted to slide in the tube 80,this being permitted by the slot which allows the links 75 and 76 totake various positions. The rotation-of the slotted tube 80 is limitedby a lug 86 which projects from it into a slot 87 in the frame member54. The driving connection just described readily permits changes in therelative location of the belt N and the track H, without imposingexcessive strains upon either the belt N, the track H or the carriage Jall o-f'which contributes to the quiet op- The manner in which thepropelling finger K is supported upon the carriage is shown in Fig. 8.The parts cooperating with said finger are supported by a bracket 89secured to the main 7 arranged.

, with the lugs 91.

frame member 54 by screws or bolts 90. Extending from the bracket 89 arelugs 91 through which'passes a pin 92 upon which the finger-supportinglever 93 is pivotally The finger-supporting lever 93 is biased to theposition shown by a coiled spring 94 which surrounds the pin 92, themovement ofthe lever 93 being limited by the engagement of theprojection 95 thereon Secured to the lever 93 and projectingsubstantially at right angles therefrom is a pin 96 upon which the bentplate 97 which supports the finger K is mounted. The plate 97'andthefinger K are biased to' the position shown in full lines in Fig. 8 by aspring 98 which surrounds the pin 96, the movement of said finger beinglimited by the engagementof the plate 97 of the carriage. When, however,the finger Y K en 'a 'es the cam L as hereinbefore dea scribed, saidfinger is movable in a vertical plane to the position indicated in dashlines 1 at 100; and if said finger meets any obstruction in the courseof its travel along the mouths of the troughs, it will yield to such a'position as that indicated in dash lines at 101, thereby preventingdamage to the, ap-- paratus and allowing the carriage to continue on itsway 1n spite of the obstruction. Figs. 12 and 13 show in deta1l themeans P for elevating and depositing tickets in" the trough E,hereinbefore referred to in describing the general arrangement ofapparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Referring to these Figs. 12 and 13, thechute D is shown projecting downward from one end of one of the troughsD. The. front wall of this chute may be slotted, as shown at 105, inorder to permit ready clearing of the chute should a ticket become stucktherein; and the bottom end of the chute may be provided with springclips 106, of the form shown, in order to hold the tickets as they dropand permit their removal in a convenient manner. The trough E, intowhich tickets are to be deposited, is shown in cross-section in Fig. 13,and in elevation in Fig. 12. The chute D is supported in brackets 107,108, which also serve to support certain parts of the ticket elevatingand depositing mechanism. This mechanism comprises an arm 110, which maybe made in the form of a light metal frame as shown secured to a shaft111 pivotally mounted in the bracket 108. The shaft 111 carries a gear112 which meshes with a gear 113 keyed to a shaft 114 also rotatablymounted in the bracket 108. The shaft 114 has secured. thereto a pinion115 which meshes with a rack 116 which is carried by a rod 117, and hasa slight longitudinal movement thereon. between collars 118 and 119secured to said rod 117. At its lower end, rod 117 carries a rack 121which meshes with a pinion 122 secured to a shaft 123:rotatablymountedin the bracket 107. Secured to the shaft 123 are handles 124, by meansof which said shaft may be rotated. At its upper end, the rod 117 issecured to'a latch pivoted in a bracket 125,

which may be secured to the bottom of the l i l located a resilient stopend of the arm 110 carries one of the to be engaged by a pin 129 formingpart of the arm 110. Behind the toe 127 may be 130 of rubber or othersuitable material with which the pin 128 may engage, and between whicand the toe 127 said pin may be locked. The

an article retaining device w be in the form of a holder 132 attached tothe end of said arm, and spring clips 133 secured in the holder 132 asshown. In Figs. 12 and 13, mounted adjacent the trough E in brackets135, 136 is a chute 137, which cooperates with the ticket retainingdevice on the end of the arm 1 a ticket therefrom and to direct it intothe trough Located near the outer end of the frame 10 is a pin 1 11which cooperates with clips 14:2 mounted upon the bracket 107, andserves to prevent rebounding of the arm 110 when it is moved to itslower position.

The manner in which the elevating and depositing device shown in Figs.12 and 13 operates will now be described: In Figs. 12 and 13 the deviceis shown in full lines in the position in which it is ready to receive aticket and elevate it; and in Fig. 13 is shown in dash lines in itselevated posi tion after the ticket has been released an deposited. Theoperator places a ticket between the outer portion of the holder 132 andthe spring clips 133, and then moves handles 12 i downward. Thismovement of the handle 124 rotates the shaft 123 and the gear 122 whichby its cooperation 121 moves the rod 117 downward. The collar 118 on therod 117 engages the top end of the rack 116 which in its downwardmovement causes of the pinion 115, shaft 114, gear 113, gear 112, andthe shaft 111 carrying the arm 110. The lower en of the arm 110 carryingt e ticket is thus swung outwardly and upwardly. The downward movementof the rod 117 moves the latch into the position shown in dash lines inFig. 13; and when the pin 129 engages the too 127 of the latch thelatter yields slightly, owing to the flexibility of the spring by whichit is supported and allows the pin to slip into the notch formed betweenthe rear end of said toe and the resilient stop 130. When the pivotedarm 110 reaches the position shown in dash lines in Fig. 13, the springclips 133 engage the outer wall of the chute 137 and are forced to theposition shown in das lines, thereby releasing the ticket, which dropsinto the chute 137 and thence into the trough E. The arm 110 may bereturned to its original position by raising one of the handles 124..Owing to the lost motion connection between the rod 117 and k 116,'hereinbefore described, the

the rac initial upward movement 0 the rod 1 7,

hich may caused by the elevation of one of the handles 124, will liftthe latch, thereby releasing the pin 129 in the arm 110, beforetherotation of the shaft 111 is caused by theupward movement of the rack116 and the consequent rotation of the pinion 115', shaft 114, gear 113and gear 112. Of course, as soon as the spring clips 133 ceases toengage the front wall of the chute 137, they resume the position shownin full lines at the bottom of Fig. 13; and when the arm 110 reaches itsnormal position are ready to receive another ticket. To assist in anunderstanding of the apparatus shown in Figs. 12 and 13, tickets 140 areshown in dotted lines in the chute D in the trough E, in the holder 132,and in the spring clips 106.

What is claimed is:

1. In a conveying apparatus, a plurality of troughs arranged adjacentand parallel to one another with their mouths arranged in stepformation, and propelling means arranged to move a ong the mouths ofsaid troughs and to engage articles projecting therefrom.

2. In a conveying apparatus, a plurality of troughs arranged adjacentand parallel to one another with their mouths at some points in the sameplane and at other points arranged in step formation, and propellingmeans arranged to move along the mouths of said troughs and to engagearticles projecting therefrom.

In a conveying apparatus, a plurality of troughs arranged ad acent andparallel to one another with their months at some points in the sameplane and at other points arranged in step formation, a track arrangedparallel to said troughs, a carriage adapted to run on said track, meansfor driving sai carriage, a resilient propelling finger pivotallysupported for movement in two planes perpendicular to each other on saidcarriage and extending across the mouths of said troughs, and meanscooperating with saic finger for maintaining the latter adjacent themouths of said troughs.

1. In a conveying apparatus, a curved track, a traveling member, pulleysarranged to support said traveling member substantially parallel to andoutside the curve 0 said track, a carriage adapted to run on said track,and a universally flexible link connection between said carriage andsaid traveling member, said pulleys being arranged to engage saidtraveling member so that said link connection can pass between faces ofsaid pulleys.

' 5. In a conveying apparatus, a plurality of troughs arranged adjacentand parallel to one another, a guard extending parallel the mouths ofsaid troughs,aresilient propelling finger arrange to move a long themouths of said troughs between said months and the guard Copies of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressin Washington, D.C."

riage and traveling member and the other of 10 which is pivoted at oneend to said traveling member and at the other end is pivotally andslidably connected withsai l carriage.

n Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day ofDecember, A. D. 15 1916.

GEORGE F. ATWOOD.

g the Commissioner of Patents.

